Inspiration from Bressingham
For me, the best place for narrow gauge inspiration around here (Norfolk) is Bressingham Steam Museum. I've been visiting there since the late 1960's with mum, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and an aunt and uncle, then later of course exhibiting our layouts there.
It has been a while since I had proper rides on the narrow gauge lines there for a day out, so we visited the Steam Gala Weekend at the end of April this year. Weather-wise, it was the perfect day.
The way the narrow gauge pleasure lines are constructed, weaving their way through fen, marsh, woods and old nurseries provides a lot of inspiration for modelling. And on a day such as a gala event it is interesting to see how locomotives are swapped over, to give a good variety of trains.
Star of the show for me was the Avonside loco of 1933 "Marchlyn".
Bressingham loco "Bevan" of 2010 at the arrivals platform, and "Marchlyn". Locos were swapped around all day on the Fen Railway.
Recent 0-4-0 VB build and Bressingham resident "Fernilee".
"Fernilee" heading out on the 2ft gauge Fen Railway.
Another visitor to the gala was recent (2005) 0-4-0 Quarry Hunslet type build "Jack Lane", hauling four slate wagons. The famous Gallopers ride is in the background.
Bressingham resident Quarry Hunslet "Gwynedd" proceeding cautiously and leaving the main display and museum complex on the 2ft Fen Railway.
2-6-2 Exmoor built loco "St. Christopher" of 2001, resident on the 15" gauge Waveney Valley Railway.
The train and main platform for passenger boarding and unloading on the Waveney Valley Line.
Superbly-built 1937 Waggon-Fabrik coaches were delivered to Bressingham in 1972 with the Krupps Pacifics.
At Ling Farm Halt on the Waveney Valley Railway will be found this amazingly well-constructed footbridge across a drainage dyke.
Still on display in the museum building is one of the Krupps Pacifics "Rosenkavalier".
It's sister loco "Mannertreu" is being completely overhauled, and displayed in the engine shed.
On the 10.25" Garden Railway "Alan Bloom" a 1995 Hunslet type loco built at Bressingham.
Riding the Garden Railway.
Along with visiting locomotives there were many visiting traction engines, road rollers and showman's engines on display along with miniature types.
At the end of the day "Marchlyn" and "Gwynedd" are seen outside the running shed.
